More Information

The Foley record2014: Foley gets stopped by Connecticut State Police for going 80 mph in a 65 mph zone on Route 92008: Foley is cited in Essex County, Va., for going 71 mph in a 60 mph zone1993: Foley's ex-wife accuses him of trying to run her off the road in Greenwich; breach of peace charge dropped1981: Foley allegedly rams his sport-utility vehicle into the back of a sedan carrying five people on Montauk Highway in Southampton, N.Y. Charge of first-degree attempted assault dropped against Foley, who characterizes the incident as a minor fender bender

Page 1 of 1

Republican Tom Foley was pulled over by State Police and accused of traveling 80 mph on Route 9 in Haddam on Monday night, drawing scrutiny once again of the driving record of the GOP favorite for governor.

The posted speed limit on that part of the two-lane highway, which runs from Farmington to Old Saybrook, is 65 mph.

Vance characterized Foley, who came within 6,500 votes of becoming governor in 2010, as cooperative.

"He was treated like everyone else," Vance said. "He was polite. The trooper issued the summons."

Foley was returning to Greenwich from a fundraiser for state Sen. Art Linares in Haddam when he was stopped around 8:30 p.m., according to his campaign spokesman, Chris Cooper, who said Foley does not plan to contest the ticket.

"He got a ticket for violating the limit," Cooper told Hearst Connecticut Media. "There's not a lot more to it than that."

A full incident report was not immediately available from state police, who did not have information on how much for Foley would be fined. The fine for traveling between 76 to 80 mph on a highway is $259, according Connecticut traffic law.

Foley, a private equities manager and former ambassador, owns multiple cars, but is known to drive to political events in an Audi A4 with a bumper sticker that says: "Don't blame me, I voted for Tom Foley."

His conduct behind the wheel has been scrutinized on multiple occasions during his two consecutive runs for governor.

In 1981, Foley was arrested on a charge of first-degree attempted assault in Southampton, N.Y. The charge, which was eventually dropped, stemmed from a motor vehicle accident that Foley described as a minor fender bender. Foley's account of the incident conflicted with a police report, which stated that Foley rammed his Toyota Land Cruiser into the back of a Mercury sedan carrying five people on Montauk Highway after attending a party.

In 1993, Foley and his first wife were both charged with breach of peace following a child custody dispute in which he pursued his estranged spouse by car in Greenwich. The charges in that case were also dropped. No records of the incident, one in which Foley previously denied he tried to run his wife off the road, were found in response to a request for them by the newspaper.

In 2008, Foley was cited for speeding in Essex County, Va., according to motor vehicle records, which said he was traveling 71 mph in a 60 mph zone.

A motor vehicle records check did not show any moving violations against the other leading candidates for governor.

Mayor Mark Boughton, who is vying for the GOP endorsement for governor and was Foley's running mate in 2010, said of speeding infraction, "It speaks for itself." He declined to comment further.